Core Science Systems

With expertise in technology, informatics, and science, CSAS&L leads the management and delivery of scientific data and information for the USGS. CSAS&L implements and promotes standards and best practices to enable efficient, data-driven science for decision making at multiple scales. Critical relationships are established and fostered to identify and access data, and to develop and deploy appropriate technological solutions that support rapid response to emerging natural resource issues. CSAS&L facilitates the USGS Community for Data Integration (CDI) and supports the John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, which allows USGS researchers and their colleagues to address complex earth system and natural resource questions in intensive, short-term research focus groups.

The National Geospatial Program (NGP) organizes, maintains, and publishes the geospatial baseline of the Nation's topography, natural landscape, and built environment. The baseline is The National Map, a set of databases of map data and information from which customers can download data and derived map products and use web-based map services. Through the Geospatial Liaison Network, the NGP works with cooperators to share the costs of acquiring and maintaining these geospatial data. The Federal Geographic Data Committee promotes consistent data and metadata standards, system interoperability, and cross-government best business practices for geospatial resources, policies, standards, and technology as part of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure.

The USGS Library program, managed by the Core Science Analytics, Synthesis, and Libraries program, supports all of the fundamental scientific research conducted within the USGS. The library serves both internal and external users with comprehensive access to the literature, data, and information necessary to understand the mission areas of the USGS and make critical decisions about how to proceed with research initiatives and investigations in the earth and natural sciences.

The National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP) produces accurate geologic maps and 3-D geologic frameworks that provide critical data for sustaining and improving the quality of life and economic vitality of the Nation. Geologic maps are indispensable to understanding earth surface processes and ground-water availability and quality, supporting DOI land management decisions, mitigating hazards, assisting in ecological and climatic monitoring and modeling, and understanding onshore-offshore sediment processes. NCGMP is unique in the Federal Government as it supports the production of most geologic maps in the United States through a successful Federal-State-university partnership.